How to Change Name on Flight Ticket: Spelling & Name Fix

You booked a flight and then noticed the name on the ticket is wrong. Maybe one letter is missing, the first and last name are swapped, or you typed a nickname instead of the name on your ID. This happens a lot, and it is stressful because airlines can refuse boarding if the ticket name does not match your government ID.

The good news is that small mistakes can usually be fixed. The bad news is that you cannot change a ticket to an entirely different person. In this blog, we will cover everything: what you can change, what you cannot, how to do it step by step, what it costs, and how the rules differ for IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air.

Flight Ticket Name Change: What Is Allowed and What Is Not

Airlines treat a flight ticket as non-transferable. The ticket is issued for one particular person, and the name on it must match the ID you carry. So when people talk about a flight ticket name change, there are really two different things:

1. Name correction (allowed in limited cases) - This means fixing a small mistake in the same person’s name. Each airline sets its own limit, and we cover them below. Examples:

• Missing or extra letter, like "Rahul Sharma" typed as "Rahul Sharmaa"
• Wrong letter, like "Priyanka" typed as "Priyanaka"
• First name and last name swapped
• Middle name missing or added
• Wrong title, like Mr instead of Mrs or Ms
• Short form used instead of full name

2. Name change to another person (usually not allowed) - This means giving your ticket to a friend or family member by changing the name. Most Indian airlines do not allow such changes on domestic tickets. If you cannot travel, the normal option is to cancel the ticket and book a new one for the other person.

There is one more case, which is a legal name change, for example, after marriage. This is treated differently, and we will cover it below.

How to Change Name in Flight Ticket

The exact steps depend on the airline and where you booked, but the process is almost the same everywhere.

Step 1: Check the mistake carefully - Compare your ticket with your ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, voter ID or PAN, whichever you will carry). Note exactly which letters are wrong.

Step 2: Act quickly - The sooner you report it, the better. Under the DGCA’s revised rules, airlines cannot charge extra to correct the name of the same person if you report the error within 24 hours of booking and the ticket was booked directly on the airline’s website. After that, charges can apply, and close to departure some corrections may not be possible at all. Air India, for example, does not do corrections within 24 hours of departure.

Step 3: Find out where you booked -

• Booked directly on the airline’s website or app: contact the airline’s customer care. Airlines like Air India handle name corrections only for tickets booked directly with them.
• Booked through an online travel platform (like EaseMyTrip or IRCTC) or a travel agent: first contact them, because airlines like Air India ask you to go to the travel agency or portal for name corrections on such bookings.

Step 4: Raise the correction request - Contact the airline’s customer care. IndiGo and Akasa Air ask you to call their call centre for a spelling correction, and Air India asks you to contact them or use its customer support portal. Keep your PNR ready and explain clearly what needs to change.

Step 5: Share documents – You will usually need a valid government ID that shows the correct name. For a legal name change you will need extra papers (see the section below).

Step 6: Pay the fee, if any, and get confirmation - After the correction is done, you should get an updated e-ticket on email or SMS. Check the name again before you close the matter. Do not leave this for the airport.

Spelling Mistake in Flight Ticket: What to Do

A spelling mistake in a flight ticket is the most common problem, and it is also the easiest to fix. Here is how to think about it.

Small mistake (a letter or two): Each airline has its own limit. Air India accepts genuine typing errors up to 3 characters, SpiceJet allows a change of one letter, and IndiGo and Akasa Air allow a spelling correction within 24 hours of booking. Whether it is free depends on the airline and on how soon you ask.

Big mistake (many letters wrong, or a totally different name): The airline may treat it as a new passenger. In that case, you may have to cancel and rebook.

What to do right now:

• Do not ignore it, hoping the airport staff will not notice. They verify ID against the ticket, and a mismatch can lead to denied boarding, especially on international flights.
• Contact the airline or the booking portal as soon as you notice.
• Please have your PNR, booking confirmation, and ID copy ready.
• If the airline is slow to answer, send a written request by email so you have a record.

Time rule worth knowing: In India, the DGCA’s revised refund rules (effective 26 March 2026) say airlines cannot charge extra for correcting the name of the same person if the error is reported within 24 hours of booking and the ticket was booked directly on the airline’s website. After 24 hours, each airline’s own rules and fees apply.

Can We Change Passenger Name in Flight Ticket?

Short answer: you can correct a small mistake, but you cannot normally replace the passenger with someone else.

Here is a simple way to see it:

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Akasa Air all say a ticket cannot be changed to another person. If you want someone else to travel, you have to cancel and rebook.

If you cannot travel and want someone else to go

Cancel your ticket, check the refund you will get, and book a new ticket in the other person's name. Sometimes the new fare is higher, so compare before you cancel.

Name change after marriage

If your surname changed after marriage and your ticket has the old name, the options depend on the airline:

• Air India accepts a change from maiden name to married name before travel, with a fee.
• IndiGo and Akasa Air say they do not permit name changes once a booking is complete, so ask customer care whether your case can be handled.
• SpiceJet says full name changes are not permitted, so a different surname may mean cancelling and rebooking.

For international travel, the ticket must match your passport exactly. Do not mix old and new names. Air India also states that if the name on your ID does not match the booking, you will not be allowed to enter the airport or board the flight.

Airline-Wise Name Correction Rules

Every airline has its own policy, fee and process. Below is a general idea of how the major Indian airlines handle it. Fees and time limits change often, so treat this as a guide and confirm on the airline's official website before you apply.

IndiGo Name Correction

IndiGo does not permit changes to the name once a booking is complete. Its Conditions of Carriage allow a spelling correction for the same customer within 24 hours of booking, without any extra charge, if the ticket was booked directly on the IndiGo website or app. You request it by calling IndiGo customer care. IndiGo says its tickets are non-transferable, so to put another person on the trip you need to cancel and book a new ticket. IndiGo also says that if you made a mistake in the name, you can contact IndiGo customer care and request a spelling correction, but only a minor typo can be corrected, not the entire name. If you booked through a travel platform or agent, contact them first.

Air India Name Correction

Under the Air India name change policy, a name correction is accepted for a ticketed booking before travel, for the same person. Air India’s official page lists these cases:

• No charge: genuine typing errors up to 3 characters, title amendments, and swapping the surname and first name. Infant name amendments are also free.
• With a fee: maiden name to married name, nickname to full name, adding a middle name, and removing a wrongly added name.

A few conditions apply. Only one correction is allowed per passenger. The ticket must be booked directly on the Air India website or app. A booking with a segment operated by another airline cannot be corrected, and a new booking is needed. Corrections are not made within 24 hours of departure, and requests are handled Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm IST. You can contact Air India or use its customer support portal.

SpiceJet Name Correction

SpiceJet says full name changes are not permitted. Its name correction policy allows only a one-letter change in the first or last name, for example changing ‘ee’ to ‘i’. A title correction is free at any time, but after it no further name correction is allowed. Corrections are free within 24 hours of booking. After that, SpiceJet’s published fee is INR 500 for domestic flights and INR 1,000 for international flights.

Akasa Air Name Correction

Akasa Air does not permit changes to the name once a booking is complete. Its Conditions of Carriage allow a spelling correction for the same customer within 24 hours of booking, without any extra charge, by calling the Akasa Care Centre. Akasa Air has also told passengers that the correction must be minor and must not change how the name is pronounced, so a completely different name cannot be corrected. In that case, contact your travel agent or cancel and rebook.

Tip for all airlines: If you booked on a third-party site, you may need to raise the request there. The airline sometimes cannot edit tickets that were issued through a partner.

Documents You May Need for Name Correction

Keep these ready so the request does not get delayed:

• PNR or booking reference
• Government photo ID with the correct name (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, voter ID)
• Passport, if the flight is international
• Marriage certificate or gazette notification, for legal name changes
• Screenshot or copy of the current ticket

How Much Does Name Correction Cost?

There is no single fixed price. It depends on:

• The airline
• Whether you booked directly or through a travel platform or agent (they may have their own charges)
• How soon after booking you ask
• How close you are to the departure date
• Domestic or international ticket (SpiceJet, for example, publishes INR 500 for domestic and INR 1,000 for international)

It is free within 24 hours of booking when you booked directly with the airline, and Air India also does not charge for small typing errors (up to 3 characters), title changes and name swaps. Otherwise it varies: Air India charges for some corrections, SpiceJet charges INR 500 or INR 1,000 after 24 hours, and for IndiGo you need to contact customer care. Sometimes cancelling and rebooking costs more than the correction fee, and sometimes the reverse is true, so ask the airline for the exact fee before you decide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Waiting at the airport. Counter staff may not be able to fix it, and you can miss the flight.
• Using nicknames. Always book with the name exactly as on your ID.
• Putting the title or extra words in the name field. Use the title field only for the title.
• Ignoring international rules. For international flights, the ticket must match the passport spelling, including the order of names.
• Not checking the corrected ticket. After the airline confirms the change, open the new e-ticket and check every letter.
• Paying unknown agents who promise to change the name on any ticket. Deal only with the airline or the platform you booked from.

Tips to Avoid a Name Mistake Next Time

• Keep your ID next to you while booking.
• Type the name slowly and check it once before payment.
• Look at the preview or review page before final payment.
• Check the e-ticket as soon as it comes to your email.
• Book directly with the airline when possible, as direct bookings are often easier to correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. What happens if my name is wrong on the ticket and I do not fix it?

Ans. The airline can refuse entry to the airport or boarding if the name does not match your ID. The risk is higher on international flights, where the ticket must match the passport.

Q.2. Does name correction affect my seat or booking?

Ans. A name correction is meant to fix only the name, not your flight. Still, ask the airline to confirm that your seat and add-ons like meals stay as they are.

Q.3. I booked a ticket for two people, and only one name is wrong. Do I need to correct both?

Ans. No. Only the passenger with the wrong name needs correction. But please inform the airline so that the request can be raised for the correct passenger.

Q.4. My ticket has my full name, but my ID has initials. Is that a problem?

Ans. It can be. The name on the ticket should match your ID, and if it does not, the airline can stop you at the airport. Making the ticket match the ID is the safer way. For international travel, it must match the passport.

Q.5. Can a child’s name be corrected?

Ans. Yes, the process is the same. Air India makes infant name amendments at no extra cost. For children, ask the airline which ID proof it needs.

Q.6. Is it better to cancel and rebook or to correct the name?

Ans. If the mistake is small and the correction fee is low, correction is better. If the airline refuses or the fee is almost the same as a new ticket, cancelling and rebooking may be simpler. Check the refund rules first, since a cancellation can lose money on cheaper fares.

Q.7. How long does a name correction take?

Ans. It depends on the airline and how you request it. Air India handles requests Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm IST, and not on Sundays or public holidays, so do not leave it for the last day.

Q.8. Can I correct the name after web check-in?

Ans. Airlines expect corrections well before departure, and Air India does not make them within 24 hours of departure. If you have already checked in, contact customer care immediately and ask what can be done, rather than waiting until you reach the airport.

Q.9. What if the mistake is on a connecting or round-trip ticket?

Ans. Ask for the correction for the whole booking. If the legs are separate bookings, each one has to be corrected separately. Air India also cannot correct a booking that has a segment operated by another airline, and a new booking with the correct name is needed.

Final Words

If you want to change name on a flight ticket, the main thing is speed and accuracy. Small spelling mistakes can be fixed with a simple request, often for a small fee or even free if you act within the first day. Changing the ticket to a different person is mostly not allowed, so in that case cancel and rebook. Check your ID, contact the airline or the platform you booked from, keep your PNR ready, and confirm the corrected e-ticket before you travel.

Note: Airline fees and policies change from time to time. Always confirm the latest rules on the official website or customer care of your airline before applying.